Protective apparatus for electronic cigarette vaporizer

ABSTRACT

A protective apparatus for electronic cigarette vaporizer comprising a hollow cylindrical structure constructed from a flexible, elastomeric material. The structure having a first end with a first opening, a second end with a second opening, and a sleeve body. The sleeve body having a thickness defining an opening between the first end and the second end. The opening being configured to removably receive a vaporizing chamber of an electronic cigarette. The first opening in the first end being configured to allow a mouth piece of the electronic cigarette to pass therethrough.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is not related to any pending application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of electroniccigarette (or e-cigarette), and more particularly to a protective sleevefor the fluid chamber for electronic cigarette vaporizer.

Background

The electronic cigarette is sometimes referred as electronic vaporingdevice, personal vaporizer (PV), or electronic nicotine delivery system(ENDS). It is a battery-powered device which simulates tobacco smoking.It generally uses a heating element that vaporizes a liquid solution(e-liquid) that is located within a fluid chamber, or chamber. Somesolutions contain a mixture of nicotine and a variety of flavorings,while others release a flavored vapor without nicotine. Many aredesigned to simulate smoking experience, such as cigarette smoking orcigar smoking. Some of them are made with similar appearance, whileothers are made considerably different in appearance.

Conventional electronic cigarettes are made with a mouth piece assembly,a vaporizer assembly, an electric connecting assembly, and a fluidchamber. The mouth piece is installed on top of the fluid chamber, andthe vaporizer assembly is installed inside of the fluid chamber, andelectrically connected to a power source through the electric connectingassembly. The mouth piece assembly is connected to the vaporizerassembly and forms an air flow passage. The e-liquid is stored in thefluid chamber. The e-liquid flows through a vaporizing chamber of theheating assembly using fiber threads. The e-liquid in the fiber threadsis then heated by a heating wire of the heating assembly and thereforevaporized. The vaporized e-liquid goes up to the mouth piece such that asmoker enjoys the vaporized e-liquid.

The chamber is typically constructed from glass or other transparentmaterial. This causes a disadvantage due to damage and/or breakage ofthe chamber when dropped or is subject to a fall. This leads to safetyconcerns due to exposure to the broken chamber to the user, thirdparties and animals. Further, this leads to increase costs due to thereplacement of the broken chamber.

Additionally, due to inconsistent heating conditions of the e-fluidinside the chamber, the heating efficiency of the chamber is diminished.This leads to wear and tear of vaporizer assembly leading to a higherrate of replacement of the vaporizer assembly due to the burning athigher wattage levels to compensate for the energy loss.

Therefore, an unaddressed need exists in the art to address theaforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of electroniccigarette (or e-cigarette), and more particularly to a protective sleevefor the fluid chamber for electronic cigarette vaporizer.

In one aspect of the present invention a protective sleeve forelectronic cigarette vaporizer is disclosed. The protective sleeveincludes a hollow cylindrical structure constructed from a flexible,elastomeric material. The structure has a first end with a firstopening, a second end with a second opening, and a sleeve body. Thesleeve body has a thickness defining an opening between the first endand the second end. The opening is configured to removably receive avaporizing chamber of an electronic cigarette such that to provideprotection to the vaporizing chamber along with providing sufficientthermal insulation to improve the vaporizing chamber's heatingefficiency. The first opening in the first end may be configured toallow a mouth piece of the electronic cigarette to pass therethrough.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a protective sleeve affixed to an electroniccigarette according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of a protective sleeve affixed to anelectronic cigarette according to certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a protective sleeve affixed to an electroniccigarette according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a protective sleeve according to certainembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a protective sleeve according to certainembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away side view of a protective sleeve according tocertain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cut-away side view of a protective cap according to certainembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a protective cap according to certainembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a protective cap according to certainembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cut-away view of a protective sleeve and cap affixed to anelectronic cigarette according to certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention utilizes the above-identified conventionalcomponents in a different configuration to obtain a safer, more sanitaryelectronic cigarette product.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, a convention electronic cigarette with anembodiment of a protective sleeve of the present invention is disclosed.The use of this conventional electronic cigarette is illustrative and isnot meant to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will recognize theinventive protective sleeve of the present invention may be utilizedwith electronic cigarettes having different configurations.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, an electronic cigarette system 10 is shown. Thissystem 10 includes an electronic cigarette 12 having an e-cigarettehousing 14 which houses a power source, such as a battery, along withvarious operational circuitry; a vaporizing chamber 22 to hold e-liquid,an atomizer 18 to vaporize the e-liquid and a mouthpiece 20. The batterymay be placed with housing 14 through battery cap 16.

Protective sleeve 30 is made from a flexible elastomeric material thatallows it to be positioned over vaporizing chamber 22 such that it isform fits over vaporizing chamber 22. This allowed the vaporizingchamber 22 to be protected from accidental damage due to being dropped,bumped or otherwise exposed to damaging actions.

The elastomeric material further allows for the vaporization chamber tobe insulated from the surrounding environment. This provides for a moreefficient heating of the vaporization chamber due to a reduction of heatloss while improving the heat distribution across the vaporizationchamber. This efficiency allows for the heating components operatelonger due to the reduced stress and work load of heating the e-fluid.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate an embodiment of a protective sleeve of the presentinvention as disclosed.

Protective sleeve 30 is a hollow cylindrical structure that isconstructed from a flexible, elastomeric material. Sleeve 30 has a firstend 34 with a first opening 40, a second end 36 with a second opening42, and a sleeve body 38. Sleeve body 38 has a thickness 32 that definesa receiving space 44 between the first opening 40 and the second opening42. Receiving space 44 is configured to removably receive a vaporizingchamber of an electronic cigarette. The flexible nature of the sleeve 30allows for it to form fit over a vaporizing chamber, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2. A mouth piece portion of the electronic cigarette is able to passthrough the first opening 40 in the first end 34.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate an embodiment of a protective cap of the presentinvention as disclosed.

Protective cap 50 is a cylindrical structure that is constructed from aflexible, elastomeric material. This material may be the same materialused to construct sleeve 30. Cap 50 has a body 52 and a rim 54 with anopening 56. The diameter of cap 50 may be the same as the diameter ofsleeve 30. Opening 56 is configured to removably receive a mouth piece20 of an electronic cigarette 12. The flexible nature of cap 50 allowsfor it to form fit over mouth piece 20 as well as be in contact withsleeve 30, as shown in FIG. 10. Cap 50 provides for protection for mouthpiece 20 from dirt and damage.

While preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept have beenshown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilledin the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only,and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept.Variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested tothose skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, andtotality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, andsubstitutions may involve other features which are already known per seand which may be used instead of, in combination with, or in addition tofeatures already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that thisinventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, andsubstitutions, and by no means limited by the scope of the claimspresented herein.

We claim:
 1. A protective apparatus for electronic cigarette vaporizer,comprising: a hollow cylindrical structure constructed from a flexible,elastomeric material, the structure having a first end with a firstopening, a second end with a second opening, and a sleeve body, thesleeve body having a thickness defining an opening between the first endand the second end, the opening being configured to removably receive avaporizing chamber of an electronic cigarette, the first opening in thefirst end being configured to allow a mouth piece of the electroniccigarette to pass therethrough.
 2. The protective apparatus of claim 1,wherein the hollow structure is further defined as being a cylindricalstructure.
 3. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thicknessof the sleeve body being sufficient thick to protect the vaporizingchamber from impact damage.
 4. The protective apparatus of claim 1further comprising a protective cap having a protective body and a rim,the protective cap defining an opening configured to receive the mouthpiece of the electronic cigarette.
 5. The protective apparatus of claim4, wherein the protective body and the rim are further defined as beingin a cylindrical configuration.
 6. An e-cigarette apparatus including(i) an e-liquid e-cigarette vaporizer and (ii) a flexible protectivesleeve for the e-liquid e-cigarette vaporizer, the protective sleevehaving a hollow cylindrical structure constructed from a flexible,elastomeric material, the structure having a first end with a firstopening, a second end with a second opening, and a sleeve body, thesleeve body having a thickness defining an opening between the first endand the second end, the opening being configured to removably receive avaporizing chamber of an electronic cigarette, the first opening in thefirst end being configured to allow a mouth piece of the electroniccigarette to pass therethrough.